CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A 63-year-old woman from Penitas has been convicted of transporting an illegal alien further into the United States, according to U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The jury took approximately 25 minutes to convict Ludivina Vasquez-Salinas after a one-day trial. On May 7, 2025, law enforcement encountered Vasquez-Salinas driving a white SUV. Initially, authorities observed three people in the vehicle, but the rear window soon went dark, suggesting it was covered with a blanket or similar item. Vasquez-Salinas claimed only she and her daughter were in the vehicle. However, testimony revealed movement beneath a blanket on the rear floorboard. Vasquez-Salinas eventually admitted to knowing there was an illegal alien in her vehicle and that she was transporting them past the checkpoint.
The defense argued that Vasquez-Salinas was tricked into transporting the illegal alien, but the jury did not accept this claim and found her guilty. U.S. District Judge David S. Morales presided over the trial and scheduled sentencing for May 27. Vasquez-Salinas faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine. She could also lose her residency status in the United States. Vasquez-Salinas remains in custody pending the sentencing hearing.
The investigation was conducted by Customs and Border Protection, and the case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Griffith and Izaak Bruce. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations.